DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s cost for a children’s health insurance program is set to soar from $7 million to $37 million over the next two years because of changes approved by Congress that reduce federal funding. The Des Moines Register reports that HAWK-I provides health insurance to 70,000 children from families with moderate income. A family of four qualifies with an annual income between about $42,000 and $76,000.
Congress decided in January to phase out extra federal financing for children’s health insurance programs, which had been part of the Affordable Care Act. As a result, state lawmakers will have to find funds to keep the program running. The Iowa Department of Human Services says that state’s share of the cost for HAWK-I will increase from 5 percent this fiscal year to 24 percent in two fiscal years.